5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) 99%

The seed of the West African climbing shrub Griffonia simplicifolia is the commercial source of 5-hydroxytryptophan, and this compound is isolated from that seed by ethanol extraction and purification. It is an amino acid, the 5-hydroxylated form of tryptophan, and it is an off-white powder that is slightly soluble in water.

The primary grade is 99% 5-hydroxytryptophan by HPLC, supplied within a 98–99% range, in Food / Dietary Supplement Grade. The L-form is what the plant makes, and the name 5-HTP is a trade abbreviation for the same molecule.

SKU: BOT-PHY-0050 Category: Phytochemicals Tags: Bakery & Snacks, Dry Blends & Premixes, Ethanol Extracted, Plant Compounds, Seed & Grain, Sports Nutrition

5-Hydroxytryptophan Chemical Identity

5-Hydroxytryptophan has the molecular formula C11H12N2O3 and the molecular weight 220.2. The structure is an indole ring carrying a hydroxyl group at position 5, joined through a methylene group to an alpha-amino acid. The natural, L-form has the (2S) configuration, and the CAS number 4350-09-8 belongs to it, while other numbers in circulation refer to the racemic or unspecified form. The molecule is a zwitterion in water, and its indole nucleus is electron-rich and sensitive to oxidation.

In biochemistry, 5-hydroxytryptophan is an intermediate on the biosynthetic route from tryptophan to serotonin, which is why the amino acid is well known beyond the plant itself. The natural source here is the seed of Griffonia simplicifolia (Vahl ex DC.) Baill., in which it occurs as a free amino acid at a high level together with lectins and sugars. The seed is also supplied as Griffonia Seed Extract Powder, a 10:1 ratio extract with no marker figure. That product describes the seed material, and the purified amino acid is a separate ingredient defined by the compound and its purity.

The single-compound identity matters for labeling. Tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin differ by one hydroxyl or by a decarboxylation, and a name that drops the hydroxy prefix describes a different molecule. Regulatory treatment of 5-hydroxytryptophan also differs between markets, so a buyer should check the intended market before use.

Typical Specifications

Specification Item	Product Information
Natural Source	Griffonia simplicifolia seed
Plant Part	Seed & Grain
Processing	Ethanol Extraction & Purification
Chemical Name (IUPAC)	(2S)-2-amino-3-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid
CAS Number	4350-09-8
Molecular Formula	C11H12N2O3
Molecular Weight	220.22
PubChem CID	439280
InChIKey	LDCYZAJDBXYCGN-VIFPVBQESA-N
Purity	99% (HPLC)
Available Grades	98–99% (HPLC)
Grade	Food / Dietary Supplement Grade
Appearance	Off-White powder
Solubility / Dispersibility	Slightly Soluble in Water
Quality Parameters
Moisture (LOD)	≤5.0%
Total Ash	≤5.0%
Heavy Metals	Lead ≤2 ppm · Arsenic ≤1 ppm · Cadmium ≤1 ppm · Mercury ≤0.1 ppm
Microbiology	TPC ≤1,000 cfu/g · Yeast & Mold ≤100 cfu/g · E. coli Negative · Salmonella Negative/25 g
Shelf Life	24 months in unopened original packaging, cool and dry storage

5-Hydroxytryptophan Purity Grades & Impurities

The 98–99% range is an HPLC result. The method compares the 5-hydroxytryptophan peak with the other detected peaks, often with ultraviolet or fluorescence detection of the indole ring. It leaves out water, ash and components without a response, so the moisture and ash limits in the table are read beside it. The range is published as a range and not as two separate grades.

The related substances of seed-derived 5-hydroxytryptophan include other indoles and amino acids. Tryptophan is the closest relative and elutes at a different time, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, tryptamine and serotonin are possible traces whose presence points to degradation or poor purification. The other amino acids and the lectins of the seed are removed by purification, and sugars appear only if cleanup is incomplete.

A particular class of impurity is known from the tryptophan family. Dimeric contaminants of tryptophan origin, often called peak X in the literature, have been reported in tryptophan and 5-HTP supplements, and a modern chromatographic method looks for them specifically. A trace that shows only the main peak with small, known neighbors is the evidence of a clean lot. Chirality is a separate point, because a standard HPLC column does not distinguish the D-form, and optical rotation or a chiral column is used when the L-configuration needs to be shown.

Color is the practical signal of stability. A clean lot is off-white, and a gray, pink or brown tint points to oxidation of the hydroxyindole. Moisture and ash are limited separately, and storage is sealed, dry, cool and dark.

5-Hydroxytryptophan Solubility & Delivery

5-Hydroxytryptophan is slightly soluble in water, more soluble in warm water and in dilute acid or alkali, and poorly soluble in ethanol and nonpolar solvents. As a zwitterion it has its lowest solubility near neutral pH and dissolves better in acidic solutions, where the amino group carries a charge. Its logP is low, so the molecule stays in the water phase.

Delivery of 5-hydroxytryptophan therefore uses water-phase systems or dry forms. Solutions are best made in mildly acidic water, because the indole ring oxidizes at neutral and alkaline pH and the liquid then browns within hours. Deaerated water, a nitrogen blanket and amber packaging slow the change, and a chelating agent counters traces of metal. In dry blends the powder is stable if sealed and dry, flows moderately and takes up little moisture, though fine grades carry static, so a premix with a dry carrier helps with small weights. Heat is avoided in solution.

Application Areas

Capsules for Small Indole Doses

Capsules take 5-hydroxytryptophan at small weight. The fine off-white powder is slightly cohesive and electrostatic, so a flow agent, anti-static tools and a sieved premix give an even fill, and opaque capsules protect the indole from light.

Tablet Blends With Dry Binders

Tablets press 5-hydroxytryptophan with a dry binder and a lubricant. Humid rooms darken the powder, so the press room is kept dry and the finished tablets are checked for color and hardness after a month of storage.

Acidified Liquid Concentrates

Liquids dissolve 5-hydroxytryptophan in warm, mildly acidic, deaerated water, then cool to the fill temperature before filling. Amber bottles with little headspace and a chelating agent protect the color, and an accelerated storage test shows early browning.

Stick Packs for Small Weights

Sticks hold 5-hydroxytryptophan at low inclusion in a dry premix with a sweetener and a fruit acid. The premix is built in two steps with a dry carrier and sieved, because a small weight of fine powder is easy to lose to static.

Identity Controls for Seed Extracts

Quality teams that handle Griffonia seed extracts use pure 5-hydroxytryptophan as a reference for the main peak. The standard is stored dry, cool and dark, and a retained sample is kept per lot so that the retention time can be compared.

Packaging & Commercial Supply

Essencefield supports product evaluation, formulation trials, commercial orders, and ongoing ingredient supply. Packaging, storage, and shipping arrangements are determined by product characteristics, order quantity, stability requirements, and destination-market needs.

Supply Item	General Information
Sample	Available upon request for formulation, testing, and supplier evaluation
Order Quantities	100 g · 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg · 100 kg · 500 kg · Bulk
Sample Lead Time	Typically 5–7 days after sample confirmation
Production Lead Time	Typically 15–30 days after order and specification confirmation
Packaging	Suitable protective inner packaging with bags, cartons, drums, or other appropriate outer packaging
Storage	Store in tightly sealed, suitable protective packaging in a cool, dry environment. Protect from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Specific storage conditions follow the approved product specification.
Documentation	COA · Product Specification · TDS · SDS · Applicable declarations (as applicable)

Final order quantities, lead times, packaging, documentation, and shipping arrangements are confirmed according to the selected product and commercial requirements.